However, as they broke through the encirclement of Mushroomen and reached the eastern district, they found the squad left to guard the area standing still, their eyes vacant and bodies occasionally twitching. Their bodies were already sprouting various colorful mushrooms.

Among these people stood a yellow figure with a strange, umbrella-like cap—it didn't resemble a mushrooman but rather appeared to be a humanoid formed from mushrooms.

"My name... Stinkhorn... pleased to... meet you," the yellow figure lifted its head and surprisingly spoke to the Old Captain and the others.

The faces of them went pale.

"Did I hear that right? Did it just speak our language?" a commoner cried out in horror, and the others were similarly terrified.

Though the speech was halting, it was unmistakably human language. Several years had passed since the zombie outbreak, and they had seen all manner of strange creatures, but never a supernatural being that could talk!

"Flesh is frail... join me... become mushrooms," Stinkhorn laughed heartily.

Suddenly, the mushrooms all over its body erupted, spewing out a massive cloud of yellow spores, seeming to engulf the Old Captain and the others in the next instant.

Just then, a bird covered in mushrooms flew through the crowd to Stinkhorn's side. The bird's voice was hoarse and grating. "Retreat... hurry.. the Immortal... is coming for you..."

Stinkhorn paused, confused. "The Immortal? Impossible... isn't he always in... East Lake City? I was about to... assimilate them. Can't... retreat."

The mushroom bird spoke again, "This is... an order from... Ink Cap..."

Stinkhorn frowned, "Big brother? Alright..."

The cloud of yellow spores it had just released suddenly withdrew, and sucked back into Stinkhorn's body.

Stinkhorn looked at them deeply, wanting to leave but hesitating, as if undecided.

The Old Captain and Feng Biao prepared to defend themselves, but seeing this, they were momentarily stunned.

What's happening? Neither fighting nor fleeing—what does this mean?

"Hmph, consider yourselves... lucky," Stinkhorn snorted coldly and turned to leave.

However, just as it turned, a black chain like a giant python descended from the sky. In the blink of an eye, it enveloped Stinkhorn completely, binding it tightly like a rope.

Stinkhorn was stunned, instantly filled with shock and rage.

"Immortal! The Immortal's coming!" The mushroom bird cried out, flapping its wings frantically, attempting to escape.

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Whoosh!

A fierce gust of wind blew, causing the Old Captain, Feng Biao, and the others to shield their eyes. When they looked again, Stinkhorn was nowhere to be seen. The mushroom bird had been split in two, its flesh and mushrooms mixed into a gruesome paste, lifeless on the ground.

Feng Biao looked around in astonishment, "Where did the yellow mushroom go?"

The survivors exchanged puzzled looks. Where had it gone?

The Old Captain mulled over the word repeatedly. "Immortal? What were the mushroom bird and the Mushrooman talking about?"

Suddenly, as if receiving a signal, the Mushrooman began to retreat like the tide.

The survivors, standing atop the ruins, looked up to the sky, crying tears of relief and joy.

"We survived! We made it!"

"The Ship Gang stands strong!"

The Old Captain turned to Feng Biao and the others, speaking sternly, "We must keep the matter of the yellow Mushrooman to ourselves."

The mere fact that a mushrooman could speak was horrifying enough. Their retreat was not a defeat but a strategic withdrawal, which was even more terrifying. It meant they would return sooner or later. However, this information must not reach the general populace as it could undermine their trust in the Ship Gang.

Feng Biao nodded vigorously, glaring at his companions, "If anyone leaks what happened today, I'll throw them into the sea!"

The survivors shivered and nodded vigorously, understanding the grave consequences of divulging such information.

...

Haotai Hotel.

Chu Xuan observed the yellow mushrooman before him with interest. He had been aware of the situation developing in the eastern district, where the Old Captain and Feng Biao had been encircled by this yellow mushrooman, but he had initially decided not to intervene. The lives and deaths of others were of no concern to him. However, from the moment the mushrooman began to speak, it piqued Chu Xuan's interest.

Even the demonic beasts of the Foundation Establishment stage from the Mystic Azure Realm, which had only opened their spiritual intelligence, could not speak human language. They needed to condense an inner core within their bodies to be able to articulate human speech. Yet, this yellow mushrooman, clearly far less powerful than a Foundation Establishment stage demonic beast, could speak. That was the real reason Chu Xuan had intervened.

"You're called Stinkhorn?" Chu Xuan looked down at him with a slight smile.

Stinkhorn eyed Chu Xuan fearfully and nodded.

Chu Xuan chuckled, "So, the 'Immortal' you speak of is me. How did you come to know about me?"

Stinkhorn remained silent.

Chu Xuan's smile took on a teasing edge. "It seems you respond only to force, not kindness." He extended his hand, summoning the Corpse Refining Blood Fire from his Qi Sea to his palm.

Buzz!

The blood-red flames roared, filled with the wails of countless tormented souls. As Chu Xuan brought the fire close, Stinkhorn's surface began to char and curl. Within moments, the scent of roasted mushrooms filled the air.

"Mmm... quite fragrant," Chu Xuan remarked lightly.

"Ahh..." Stinkhorn screamed in agony. Fire was its greatest fear, and this "Immortal" could manipulate flames!

"If you don't answer, you'll become just fuel," Chu Xuan stated calmly. The Corpse Refining Blood Fire continued to burn, swiftly engulfing Stinkhorn's lower half. The aroma of roasted mushrooms grew even stronger, enticing even the zombie-like beings, Long, Hu, and Bao, who sniffed the air with evident desire.

"Roar, roar, roar!" Bao pointed at Stinkhorn, grinning bashfully as if asking if he could have a bite.

Chu Xuan laughed heartily, "Of course, once I've cooked him thoroughly, you can eat all you want."

"Roar, roar, roar!" The trio of corpses howled excitedly.

Chu Xuan's words completely shattered Stinkhorn's resistance. Terrified, it cried out, "I'll talk, I'll talk! We... have known about you... for a long time. We purposely... avoided East Lake City. You are strong... big brother said... not to provoke you."

Chu Xuan's interest deepened at this revelation. "We? Big brother? There are more of you?" Under his relentless questioning, Stinkhorn had no choice but to reveal everything.

"Big brother Ink Cap, second brother Panther Cap, third brother Green Cap, and me, Stinkhorn."

Chu Xuan repeated these names, chuckling. These were clearly the types of poisonous mushrooms. After absorbing Psionic energy, they had become supernatural beings and adopted these names for themselves.